The High-Speed Hunt for Wahoo with Captain Darren Dorris
Once you start chasing wahoo, there’s no slowing down - literally. Known as Ono in Hawaii and Peto in Central America, this torpedo-shaped speed demon can hit 60 mph and crush lures trolled at 12+ knots.
The bite is electric, the fight is blistering, and the grilled fillets are perfection. But catching them requires precision and gear built to take the heat.
The Set Up
After years of dialing in the high-speed troll off the Northeast coast, here’s what works:
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Three-rod spread two long, one short down the middle.
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50-class reels on bent-butt rods, with lever drags pushed hard.
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Rod leashes are mandatory the strike can rip a setup overboard.
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DTX 200/220 or Madmacs run flawlessly at 12–14 knots.
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Keep lures staggered 60–150 yards back for clean turns and fewer tangles.
Tip: Rubber-band the mainline ahead of the reel. When the band snaps, it’s fish on even if you can’t hear the clicker over the engines.
The Tackle
Heavy trolling weights (28–48 oz) and 400-lb cable rigs are key to keeping lures deep and connected. Use a 10-ft, 250-lb shock leader with quality swivels and chafe guards. Colors? Classic black/purple, red/black, or a flash of orange and don’t be shy about running 15–18 inch lures.
The Hunt
Target the 20–40 fathom line, offshore structure, or anywhere you’d find tuna and marlin. Wahoo love edges, wrecks, and weed lines, often lurking beneath mahi schools. When the tuna bite slows, drop in the wahoo spread, you’ll be surprised how often it pays off.
Wahoo fishing isn’t just a tactic it’s an obsession. Once you hear that first drag scream, there’s no turning back!
